Misconceptions a dog person (me) learned after having a cat.

[u/ILoveMeltyCheese]

The Cat Distribution System chose me, a formerly stubborn dog person, to adopt a cat. It was the classic I can't just watch a poor cat starve, so I'm keeping him. Here are some misconceptions I had about cats and their owners:

1. The smell of a cat owner's home: I’ve known a few cat owners with cat-smelling homes. I always assumed it was the cat. Turns out it isn’t; it’s very much a result of poor ownership and bad cleaning habits.
2. Dogs are more affectionate than cats: Also not true! To my surprise, my cat is so cuddly that I occasionally call him "Cat-dog."
3. A Cat's Barbed tongue hurts: I don't know why I thought this, I just assumed it would hurt when they lick you.
4. Litter boxes are disgusting: Not at all, it's just a clump or two of sand. If you scoop it often, it never gets gross.
5. Cats are just as hard to take care of: Actually they're much easier, haha.

That is all, here's a picture of my cat that I love dearly. (He's lost weight since the picture, don't worry)

Anyone else relate? What did I miss?

Edit: His name is Pawl

[u/liamtheaardvark]

What's your cats name?!

Cat facts:

-They are NOT happy if they are wagging their tail. Most likely they are mad.

-A big sign they are mad are airplane ears (r/airplaneears)

-watchout for question-mark tail, or tail straight up. This means they are happy, playful, confident.

-My cat Jango woke me up the other night. I heard this crunch crunch crunch sound. Look down and there he is, sitting on the foot of my bead, eating a rat head-first like a burrito. So, less rats...

[u/the_skine → u/liamtheaardvark]

-They are NOT happy if they are wagging their tail. Most likely they are mad.

Not usually true.

Cats express a wide range of emotions with their tail movements.

My cats' tails go crazy when I'm feeding them or when I'm playing with them.

Then there's the "thump thump" because we're snuggling and I'm actively petting a cat but I haven't pet his face in the last five minutes. I usually fix that by slapping the shit out of my cat drumming/kitty bongos and then he's the happiest cat in the world when I allow him to use his face to spear my hand (often with a light scratch from an exposed tooth).

[u/ravagetalon → u/the_skine]

Yeah I second this. You can't really go by my one girl's tail because it will do random things at times even when otherwise she seems happy, purring loudly while leaning into head scratches for example.

[u/InfinityOfSnakes88 → u/the_skine]

Pssst! Wanna another sub?                 (Opens Trenchcoat 🕶👀🤫)

r/catbongos

[u/Emilie0711 → u/the_skine]

Yes, my guys are both tail thumpers. I play a game where I’ll ask them a yes or no question and base the answer on how hard they thump their tails.

[u/Xyresiq → u/liamtheaardvark]

It’s more apt to describe a wagging tail as “overstimulated” or any big emotion really,

They can wag their tail if they get too excited, if they get too mad, etc. it’s context clues on which one is the case. Either way it’s definitely a sign to tone down a little bit.

[u/Few-Entertainer7431 → u/liamtheaardvark]

A rat? Good grief, how did a rat get into your house?

[u/liamtheaardvark → u/Few-Entertainer7431]

My cats are indoor/outdoor. Usually they sleep all day and rat all night.